Heisman Trophy 2025: When Is the Ceremony and Who Could Win?

When is the 2025 Heisman Trophy ceremony?

The 2025 Heisman Trophy ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 13, 2025, with the broadcast scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). The show will be televised live in the United States on ABC, with streaming options available via the ESPN app and authenticated cable providers.

Once again, the presentation will be staged at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room in Manhattan – a dramatic glass-backed venue overlooking Columbus Circle and Central Park. For fans watching around the world, 7:00 p.m. ET translates roughly to 4:00 p.m. PT on the U.S. West Coast and 00:00 (midnight) GMT on Sunday, December 14 in the UK.

Before the ceremony, the Heisman Trust and ESPN’s pregame coverage will revisit the best plays, biggest storylines and key numbers behind each finalist. For the finalists themselves, the night is as much about representing their programs as it is about chasing a piece of college football history.

Who are the 2025 Heisman Trophy finalists?

Four players have been invited to New York for the 2025 Heisman Trophy ceremony, three quarterbacks and one running back. Here’s a quick look at each of them and why they’re in the conversation.

Fernando Mendoza – QB, Indiana Hoosiers

No one has risen faster in 2025 than Fernando Mendoza. The Indiana quarterback has led the Hoosiers to an undefeated season and a conference title, while putting up genuine video-game numbers. Mendoza has thrown for around 2,980 passing yards and 33 touchdowns, with only six interceptions, and has added another 240 rushing yards and six rushing scores on the ground.

Beyond the stat line, voters will remember the way he delivered in big moments: late-game drives against ranked opponents, a composed performance in the conference championship, and an emotional post-game interview that went viral across social media. Many sportsbooks now have Mendoza as a heavy favorite to lift the trophy.

Diego Pavia – QB, Vanderbilt Commodores

Diego Pavia has transformed Vanderbilt’s offense and national perception. The senior dual-threat quarterback has surpassed 3,100 passing yards with 27 touchdown passes, and added a devastating rushing element with more than 800 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns across the season.

Pavia’s case is built on all-around impact: he’s both the Commodores’ primary passer and their most dangerous runner, powering one of the most successful seasons in program history and delivering statement performances in big SEC games.

Julian Sayin – QB, Ohio State Buckeyes

For pure efficiency, Julian Sayin might have the strongest résumé of the four. The Ohio State quarterback has eclipsed 3,300 passing yards with 31 touchdown passes and just six interceptions, posting one of the nation’s best completion rates and quarterback ratings.

Sayin has been the calm centre of a star-studded Buckeyes offense, delivering big numbers against ranked opponents and steering Ohio State deep into the playoff picture. If voters lean heavily on accuracy, consistency and strength of schedule, Sayin will be right in the mix when ballots are tallied.

Jeremiyah Love – RB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The lone non-quarterback in New York, Jeremiyah Love has forced his way into the conversation with an outstanding all-purpose season for Notre Dame. The junior running back has rushed for 1,372 yards on 199 carries with 18 rushing touchdowns, averaging an elite 6.9 yards per carry. He’s also added around 280 receiving yards and three more touchdowns, giving him 21 total scores on the year.

Love has consistently changed games with explosive runs, long touchdown bursts and relentless production in big rivalry fixtures. In an era dominated by quarterbacks, his presence among the finalists underlines just how special his 2025 campaign has been.

So, who is most likely to win?

While all four players have a legitimate Heisman case, current sentiment from analysts and betting markets points to Fernando Mendoza as the clear frontrunner. An undefeated season, a conference championship, and a combination of efficient passing and timely rushing touchdowns tick almost every box voters tend to value.

However, the Heisman often reflects more than raw statistics. Pavia offers the “do-everything” narrative at a historically underpowered program; Sayin is the polished star at a blue-blood giant; and Love is the dominant workhorse who’s dragged defenses into the mud all year. If voters are split on what “most outstanding” really means in 2025, the race may be tighter than the odds suggest.

For fans, the safest bet is that the show itself will be unmissable: a one-hour, primetime snapshot of the season, played out against the glittering skyline backdrop of New York City.